This wikiHow teaches you how to change app icons on your computer, phone, or tablet. By changing application icons, you can personalize your home screen or desktop with images and colors that match your interests and aesthetics. You need a third-party app to change app icons on Android devices, but if you're using an iPhone or iPad (iOS 14 or later), a Windows computer, or a Mac computer, you can change the icons without any additional programs.
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Method 1 of 4: On iPhone and iPad
Step 1. Save the icon you want to use to your device's photo gallery
If you've updated your iPhone or iPad to iOS 14 or later, you don't need to download a third-party app to change app icons! Start by searching for an icon or image from the internet and saving it to your device. Usually, you can save the image by touching and holding the image, then selecting “ Save Image ”.
- If you don't know where to start, use the search phrase "cool iPhone icons" for the icon options, or visit the Google Photos site to search for any character, object, or image you want. You can also visit an icon download site like Icons8 or Flaticon. If you use a free icon download site, make sure you download the icon as a-p.webp" />
- If you're feeling creative, design your own icons from scratch through a free design app like Photoshop.
Step 2. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone or iPad
The Shortcuts app is marked by a dark blue icon with a pink and green square inside. You can find it on the home screen or in the “Productivity and Finance” folder in the application library.
Since you'll be creating an app shortcut, you won't see a notification badge on the icon
Step 3. Touch +
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen.
Step 4. Touch Add Action
A page showing suggestions and a search bar will be displayed.
Step 5. Type open app into the search bar
A list of search results will be displayed.
Step 6. Tap Open App under the "Actions" section
Step 7. Touch Choose and select an application
After that, the selected app will be added to the box at the top of the screen.
Step 8. Touch ••• and select Add to Home Screen.
It's the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner of the screen. A preview of the shortcut icon will be displayed after that.
Step 9. Select a new icon to represent the application
Here's how:
- Touch the drawing pad icon next to " New Shortcut 1 ", at the bottom of the screen.
- Touch " Choose Photo ” to open the photo.
- Select the image you want to use as the icon. If the image is not already squared, follow the on-screen instructions to crop it.
Step 10. Replace "New Shortcut 1" with the name of the application
The name typed will be the display name of the application on the home screen.
Step 11. Tap Add in the top right corner of the screen
The new app icon is now displayed on the home screen.
- To launch the application, touch the new icon on the home screen to open a shortcut, then select the name of the application.
- To add another icon, return to the Shortcuts app, add a new action to open the desired app, and select the new icon as before.
Method 2 of 4: On Android Device
Step 1. Try the icon pack from Samsung Galaxy
If you don't have a Samsung phone or tablet, move on to the next step. However, if you are using such a device, you can search for free icons and use them to replace the old icons on the device very easily. Here's how:
- Touch and hold an empty area on the home screen and select “ Themes ”.
- Choose " Icons ”.
- Swipe up on the screen to see all the icons and select an icon pack to check it out. Some (but not all) icon packs are free to use.
- Touch " Download ” (if free) or price button (if paid) and follow the on-screen instructions to confirm.
- To change the application icon to the one you downloaded, touch and hold an empty area on the screen, select “ Themes ", touch " Icons, and select " my page ” in the upper right corner of the screen. Touch " Icons ” under the “My Stuff” section, select the replacement icon, and touch “ Apply ”.
Step 2. Install a new launcher
Since Android is one of the easiest operating systems to modify, there are at least hundreds of ways to change icons. One of the easiest ways you can try is to install a new launcher or launcher app which is a replacement home screen layout for the device. When you use a third-party launcher program, you can usually install various icon packs so you can modify more aspects of your device than the built-in modification feature of your phone or tablet.
- Some Android devices support a variety of icon packs beyond the default options. Try doing a search using your device model and the phrase "Icon Packs" to see what options are available.
- To search for a new launcher program, go to the Play Store and use the keyword "Launcher". Touch a program to read its review and see a snippet. Here are some popular options that support a variety of icon packs, both free and premium: Evie (completely free!), Nova Launcher (free, with some paid features), Action Launcher (free, with some paid features), and Apus Launcher.
Step 3. Download the icon pack for the launcher program
After installing the launcher program, browse the settings to see if there is a dedicated section for downloading icon packs. If you can't download icon packs from the launcher program directly, go to Google Play and enter the name of the launcher program, along with the phrase " icon packs ". If you use a popular launcher program, you can find many free (and paid) options.
Step 4. Apply icon pack on launcher
Sometimes, you can option to apply an icon by touching and holding an empty area on the home screen, then selecting “ Customize " or " Icons " You can also press and hold on an app icon, then choose an option to change it. Most launcher programs make it easy for users to change icons, but the steps to follow are different for each program. Have a good time!
Method 3 of 4: On Windows Computer
Step 1. Download or create a new icon
Icons on Windows are in the ICO format, but if you have a-p.webp
Some apps come with several built-in icons that you can choose from. If you don't want to download a new icon, you may be able to find a replacement icon with the steps below
Step 2. Create a desktop shortcut for the icon you want to create
This way, you can modify the icons on the desktop:
- Press the Windows key to open the “Start” menu and scroll to the desired application.
- Right click the application, select " More, and click " Open file location " The application will open in a new folder.
- Right click the application and select " Send to ” > “ Desktop (create shortcut) " The application shortcut will be added to the desktop.
Step 3. Right-click the shortcut on the desktop and select Properties
The “Properties” dialog window will open and display the “Shortcut” tab.
Step 4. Click the Change Icon button
It's at the bottom of the window.
Step 5. Select the desired icon (if you see it) or click Browse
If you see the desired icon, select the icon and click “ OK " If not, click " Browse ” to search for the icon you have downloaded.
Step 6. Select the icon and click Open
Open the folder containing the icon file (in. ICO format) to select it. The icon will be added to the previous window.
Step 7. Click OK to select the icon
You also need to click “ OK ” second time to save changes. The app icon will change to the icon you selected.
Method 4 of 4: On Mac Computer
Step 1. Download the icon file to your computer
The Mac icon must be in the. INCS format as it will automatically convert the image to the appropriate size. Visit icon download sites like Flaticon and Findicons. Even if you encounter icon sets that are not in the INCS format, you can convert your-p.webp
Step 2. Open Finder
This app is marked by a two-tone smiley face icon on the left side of the Dock.
Step 3. Open the “Applications” folder
This folder is in the left pane of the Finder window.
Step 4. Right-click the icon of the app you want to change and select Get Info
The info panel will open with the active icon in the top left corner.
Step 5. Press Command+N to open a new Finder window
You will need to have two Finder windows open at the same time for this method to work.
Step 6. Find the icon you want to use as a replacement
Just open the icon storage folder so you can see the icon files.
Step 7. Drag the new ICNS file to the old icon
When you drop the new icon onto the old icon, you will be asked to enter an administrator password to confirm. Once confirmed, the new icon is ready to use.
